Families of Matthew Fields and Kate Leadbetter appeal sentence for couple’s killer

Two years ago, Matthew Field and his pregnant partner Kate Leadbetter were killed by a teen in a stolen car. Matthew’s parents have spoken of their pain ahead of an appeal hearing into the teen’s six-year jail term.

• Opposition: We’ll put juvenile crims behind bars

The Field family had gathered a few days after Christmas for Matthew’s birthday, a backyard BBQ with a special treasure hunt for the little children.

They ran squealing from clue to clue, the final prize hidden under a chair – an ultrasound photo of a baby boy.

“We had a fair idea Kate was pregnant,” Russell Field, Matthew’s dad, said.

“She didn’t want to have a drink at Christmas.”

Matthew Field’s parents, Ann and Russell. Picture: Liam Kidston

Later, as Russell snoozed in his backyard hammock, he thought to himself how lucky they were. The three children he and Ann had raised to adulthood were healthy, happy, with jobs and homes and would now all have their own families.

“And nearly a month to the day, it all turns to shit,” Russell said.

“It is so hard to comprehend.”

The Australia Day crash that shocked the state sparked what would become an ongoing debate about youth justice – how do you help the young recidivist offenders putting the community at risk?

On January 26, 2021, a drug and alcohol affected 17-year-old with a lengthy criminal history was driving a stolen 4WD through Alexandra Hills when he lost control, collided with a tow truck and rolled into a pregnant 31-year-old Kate Leadbetter and her partner of eight years, 37-year-old Matthew Field as they walked their dogs.

They died at the scene and their unborn child, already named Miles, was delivered stillborn.

The youth, who fled the crash on foot, was sentenced to 10 years jail to be released after serving six.

Matthew Field and Kate Leadbetter were killed while walking their dogs at Alexandra Hills in 2021.

A hearing, expected to take place next month, will consider whether the sentence was manifestly inadequate.

“I was just shocked. Just numb,” Matthew’s mother Ann said about hearing her son’s killer would be released after six years.

And while the Fields acknowledge no amount of time could ever seem adequate, it is particularly difficult knowing the teen will be released on the anniversary of their deaths.

“Even if he gets a week longer (it will help). Having him being released on the 26th of January is just a kick in the guts,” Ann said.

Russell said he did not believe the law was “fair and just” when it came to young offenders.

“The victims should not be fighting for justice,” he said.

“If anyone is fighting for justice, it should be the offender. If he thinks he’s hard done by, he should be the one who is fighting to get it reduced.”

The deaths of Matthew and Kate and their unborn son rocked the community. Picture: Richard Walker

The Fields say they read about youth crime in the news constantly, about teens carrying knives or driving stolen cars, and they wonder what the solution might be.

They mention Emma Lovell, a 41-year-old mother of two, allegedly killed by two youths during a violent home invasion on Boxing Day.

They mention Hemmant man Michael Warburton, a 59-year-old father-of-three, killed last year when his Vespa was hit by a stolen car in Wynnum West, allegedly driven by a 15-year-old boy, accompanied by a 16-year-old female passenger.

Both teens allegedly ran from the car, leaving Mr Warburton to die.

Emma Lovell. Picture: Facebook.

Michael Warburton. Picture: Facebook

And then there’s 75-year-old Robert Brown, killed in Toowoomba as a result of a robbery allegedly perpetrated by a group of teens on February 16.

And in January, 43-year-old Wilston man David Connolly died from stab wounds after being attacked in the street, allegedly by a 17-year-old boy armed with a 45cm knife.

“There are some individuals out there who don’t give a shit about anyone,” Russell said.

“They think the world owes them something.”

He believes young people are given too many chances, that there is no deterrent when it comes to preventing crimes from occurring.

“If something concrete was done two years ago, a lot of these instances may not have happened over the last two years,” Russell said.

“Until they start bringing in a deterrent … the kids won’t think twice about going and stealing a car.”

But they don’t necessarily think prison is the answer either, instead, suggesting young offenders should be confined to a “re-education facility” where they are taught life skills.

“Somewhere where they can teach these kids how to write a resume, finish their education,” he said.

“Teach them how to get a job, teach them how to run their finances, teach them how to invest, so when they come out of these facilities … they go away with their head held high.

“If the parents aren’t going to discipline them and teach them respect … grab them and take them out of their comfort zone and drum it into them.

“It’s possible for people to go from their lifestyle to (being) something.”

Two years after losing their son and his partner, Russell and Ann search for small ways to help others.

Ann and Russell Field have supported charities and organisations in memory of Matthew and Kate. Picture: Tara Croser

They’ve held fundraisers for organisations like 4 Aussie Heroes, which helps support people with PTSD and trauma related illnesses, they’ve bought a rescue board for the Point Lookout Surf Life Saving Club and are looking at funding a cuddle cot for the Mater Hospital – a cot that helps parents spend time with their stillborn baby.

“There’s a lot of other people other than us who are suffering,” Russell said.

“There was a camera at the intersection and a lot of dashcam footage of the accident.

“The people who were sitting in their cars, they saw it all happen. Every night they go to bed and it will be embedded in their head.

“We can only imagine what happened, these people saw what happened and some of them may or may not be getting support or counselling.

“They saw what happened and that will never erase from their memory.”

Two years on, Ann said she still struggles to sleep and waits every day for her son to come up the drive.

“It’s something I’ll have every day,” she said.

“(I miss) just seeing him, knowing that he’s there. His great sense of humour. Just everything.”